present is that in fact, this began as a spontaneous, not a premeditated response to what transpired in cairo. >> reporter: they have vowed a fight, with her erroneous remarks blaming the attack on the benghazi compound on a demonstration over that anti-muslim video run amok. president obama suggests if they want a fight, they will get one. >> when they go after the u.n. ambassador, apparently because they think she's an easy target, then they've got a problem with me. >> reporter: to replace secretary geithner at treasury, white house chief of staff jack lew is thought to have the edge. the president likes him for his economic expertise and easy going manner. he's competing with current treasury officials, but there's also talk of a business ceo type. such as facebook's cheryl sandberg. and michelle flournoy would be the first woman secretary of defense but kerry may have the edge. >> the new strategy is to bore our enemies to death. >> reporter: and george, a possible political drawback for picking senator kerry is it opens up the seat once thought to be reliably democrat. but the senator s